Where does papyrus grow?

Answer 1

The Cyperus papyrus plant is fairly cosmopolitan in range and is part of the sedge group of plants.

It occurs naturally in north and central Africa (as well as areas of the "fertile crescent" between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) and grows along rivers, streams and lakes.

The plants claim to fame is that it was used about 6,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians to produce Papyrus "paper", which was then used to record events and daily life on.

Due to the extremely dry climate in much of North Africa, these scrolls, if they were stored correctly are still readable today enabling archaeologists to piece together ancient life along the Nile.

Although the plant was used extensively in Egypt for this purpose, does not mean that the plant originated there. It's other uses included mats, sandals, baskets and reed boats.

Thor Heyerdahl's famous Ra expedition boats were constructed of papyrus.

While the use of Papyrus as a writing material was Egyptian in origin, the Egyptians never called it "papyrus", the name is derived from Greek and Latin.

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Answer 2

Mainly the delta region.